The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s soccer team has been selected to compete in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. This is the fourth time they will compete on the national stage, having reached the tournament in 1999, 2003, and 2004.
“I think the players worked hard during the season and really deserve to be in the NCAA tournament,” Coach Neil Piper said. “Our goal hasn’t changed all season: to win the national championship. So, reaching the tournament gives us a great opportunity to reach our goal.”
Last Sunday, the Lions just missed out on the Lone Star Conference Championship, narrowly losing 1-0 to West Texas A&M in overtime. Being selected to play in the NCAA National Tournament is a definite boost in morale.
“It’s amazing,” defender Evan Stanberry said about being selected. “We thought that loss was going to be detrimental, and then to find out that we finally got into what we were working to get into was really relieving and just a huge confidence boost.” Playing at the national level is an achievement many teams wish to reach. Only a few are able to actually live it out, so this is a very prestigious honor given to A&M-Commerce.
“This is a big step,” forward Lacy Alexander said. “I am a junior, and the three years that I’ve been here we haven’t made it to the NCAA tournament. This is our fourth time to make it to the NCAA tournament, so this is a big step for us.
“After losing this weekend, we thought we were done. After we heard yesterday that we made it, it was a big surprise and we were really excited. We’re ready, we’re glad the season’s not over and we’re still playing. This is where all the big teams go. This isn’t just conference championship, this is to go to nationals. This is the big-time.”
No. 5 seed A&M-Commerce will play the No. 4 seed University of Nebraska at Omaha on Friday, Nov. 14 at 1:00 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo. This is the first meeting between these two schools in women’s soccer, and the Lions are ready to face the challenge as a team.
“We’ve definitely united, because we all have the common goal of winning,” said Stanberry.
Team unity aside, winning a national championship is a lofty team goal for anyone. There is no way to tell how tournament games are going to go, so just being in the national tournament gives A&M-Commerce all the chances in the world.”I think it is definitely achievable, anything can happen,”
Alexander said about the team’s goal of winning the national tournament. “Anything’s possible, anything can change on a given day. A goal can be scored in a second. I think it’s very possible. We have a really good team. We’re a really close knit team, and a really skillful team. I think we can definitely do it.”The winner of Friday’s match will play No. 1 seed Central Missouri on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 1:00 p.m.